Dstar Modification/Test

 

DSTAR Repeater Modifications & Interference Testing

By

NU5D

Overview

Icom produces four different repeater modules and one controller in their

DSTAR product line. One controller can serve any mix of four repeater modules.

The repeaters start out as basic FM radio sets with traditional transmitter and

receiver components and look to be constructed using ID-1 mobile radio

chassis components. Each receiver has a traditional FM detector and provides a

test point for discriminator or wide bandwidth recovered audio. Each transmitter

uses a semi standard press to talk line called TXE and is equipped with a direct

FM varactor diode modulator.

There are several tests commonly performed with analog FM repeaters that are

also useful in testing DSTAR repeaters. The repeater module test points,

however, are not readily accessible as shipped. Therefore a few simple

modifications need to be performed.

Before getting into the modifications let me say a little about the tests. The first

test, Effective Sensitivity, is a measure of how much noise the repeater's

surroundings introduce and impair receiver performance. The second test,

Receiver Desensitization, will measure the degree to which the repeater

transmitter impairs receiver performance.

Some test equipment is needed to measure Effective Sensitivity. You will need a

signal source or generator, an Isolated TEE or cross coupler with at least 50 dB

of isolation, and a 50 Ohm dummy load. The purpose of the Isolated TEE is to

inject a known signal into the receive port without significantly loading any

signal presented by the antenna. (In duplex antenna systems this isolation

allows you to operate the transmitter without damaging the signal generator). A

50 Ohm dummy load is used as a quiet antenna to establish a reference point,

(receiver noise floor).

You need to be able to monitor the received signal either with a loudspeaker or

a tap into the discriminator of the receiver. It is helpful to have a means of

measuring the quality of the received signal such as a SINADDER (Signal to Noise

and Distortion Meter) or a Flat Meter to measure the degree of receiver quieting

when a signal is applied to the receiver antenna port. The industry accepted

standards for a usable received signal is 12 dB SINAD or 20 dB of Receiver

Quieting. I prefer SINAD because it gives a better overall measure of

performance and includes distortion as well as quieting.

A signal with 12 dB SINAD will have some noise but will be intelligible. These

tests and modifications do not address digital signal recovery or regeneration or

bit error rate performance. They do provide a means of identifying and

measuring interference sources and system degradation ahead of the digital

circuitry.

Test Procedure

Connect the SINAD meter to the receive discriminator test port or loudspeaker.

Note: without a signal at the antenna there should be zero dB. of SINAD – all

noise. Connect the receive antenna port to the Isolated TEE and terminate the

TEE into a 50 Ohm load. Connect the signal generator to the isolated tap on the

TEE and set the generator to produce an on frequency signal at a level of around

-60 dBm modulated in FM with a 1000 Hertz tone and the frequency deviation

set to +/- 1.5 kHz deviation (1000 Hz. @ +/- 1.5 kHz is a standard 60% full

system deviation test tone). Fine adjust the generator output to produce a 12 dB

SINAD on the received signal quality meter. Make note of the generator output

level needed for 12 dB SINAD. This number, minus the coupling loss in the

Isolated TEE is the receiver sensitivity for 12 dB. SINAD. This should be around -

115 dBm or so. (The +/- 1.5 kHz. FM deviation setting is consistent with 60%

modulation on 12.5 kHz bandwidth FM receiver systems).

Remove any receiver preamplifiers before testing. Using a preamplifier will make

existing problems more pronounced. Test without preamplifiers first, then if all

is well, add the preamp and re-test.

Next remove the dummy load and connect the station antenna in its place. The

signal from the generator will now have some real world noise to contend with

that should cause more signal from the generator to be needed for the same 12

dB SINAD reading on the signal quality meter. It is not uncommon to see an

impairment of several dB caused by outside noise sources.

If you are using a single antenna and duplexer the Isolated TEE goes on the

Antenna Port of the Duplexer because both local noise and the desired signal

mix before the signal gets to the duplexer. I did encounter an unexpected result

at this point. The signal from the generator into the TEE was well above the

noise, and suddenly the test tone disappeared and a steady burst of noise took

over. This happened several times. I finally figured out by listening to the IC91

that one of the local hams was making a call through the repeater.

Finally you will need to turn the DSTAR Repeater transmitter on and off to see if

additional impairment is caused when the transmitter is active. This calls for the

second repeater modification of the TX radio and allows the second test,

Receiver Desensitization to be performed. The Receiver Desensitization test is

the same as the Effective Sensitivity test except you turn the repeater's

transmitter off and on to see if your own transmitter is causing impairment to

your receiver. Try this first without any external power amplifiers. If there is

receiver desensitization without an external power amplifier, fix that problem

first, then test with the amplifier. Also go back to the dummy load (capable of

absorbing the transmitters rated output) and switch between the dummy load

and antenna. This will let you know whether receiver desensitization is taking

place inside the repeater and duplexer system, or in the transmission line and

antenna system. One system operator recommends using DPLUS with a local                                                                                                               

terminal to play a message through the repeater, thereby turning on the

transmitter. I also have used my IC91 with a dummy load (to keep stray RF

down) on 2M to operate the 70CM transmitter. For me the PTT modification was

convenient, but there are certainly other ways to activate the repeater's

transmitter.

There are many online lists with advice and information (some useful) about

resolving interference and noise problems and I will not attempt to go into these

details.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvouX-K5AFg

 

Repeater Modifications – NOT APPROVED by ICOM and MAY CAUSE

DAMAGE to your REPEATER. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! There is no

warranty implied or offered and your mileage may vary.

Modification 1 – Discriminator Tap.ra in

Figure 1

Figure 1 above is the 1.2 GHz RP2V DSTAR Receiver MOD. A 68K Ohm resistor is

attached to the 8th pin of the internal connector and runs through an openi

the front of the receiver to a Chassis Mounted BNC connector mounted in the

front panel of the repeater. Figure 2 below is the front panel switch and jack.

Modification 2 – Front Panel PTT Control

I found some single throw double throw toggle switches with Momentary ON

and Center OFF positions. I mounted this type of switch on the front of each

repeater module. The idea is to provide a NORMAL, OFF, and Momentary PTT

switch position. PTT in a DSTAR Repeater comes from the RP2C repeater

controller. 3.1 VDC from the controller is applied to the TXE lead (a violet lead in

the TX radio as shown in Figure 3 below)

 

I broke the VIOLET TXE lead from the RP2C controller near the connector on the

TX radio control board. The TXE Lead from the RP2C goes to the NORMAL side

of the toggle switch. +3.24 VDC used to power the controller microprocessor

goes to the Momentary side of the Toggle switch. The Center OFF position on

the switch disconnects the PTT line from both the RP2C controller and the 3.24

VDC source, so the TX Radio cannot transmit. In the NORMAL position the signal

from the RP2C goes through the UP position on the switch and lets the

controller operate the transmitter as needed. The PTT or Momentary DOWN

position on the switch disconnects the control board from the RP2C and

Momentarily connects the TX Radio TXE lead to +3.24 VDC to allow momentary

keying of the transmitter. I first thought about using diodes to isolate a Manual

Key line but I was concerned that the 0.7V drop across the diode junction may

be too much to permit reliable keying. The 3 position switch also allows the technician to disconnect the TX line from the controller and prevent accidental

TX operation during testing. The procedure is very similar on the 2M and 70CM

repeaters except the 3.24 VDC power source that powers the microprocessor is

at a slightly different location.

That is pretty much it in a nutshell. I recommend that only an experienced

technician with reasonable skills attempt this modification with proper ESD

protection, and be sure safety measures such as proper fusing, and so forth are

applied. Again this is at your own risk and I assume NO LIABILITY if you thrash

your repeater. Let the buyer beware.

Steve NU5D